Substance Use and Harm Reduction

As a precaution students need to be aware never to touch a discarded sharp or needle if found. Always go to an adult for help. Adults can ensure discarded sharp objects are safely collected and disposed of by following the directions on the Found sharps and needles webpage.

• Lungs are for Life | Canadian Lung Association. Evidence-based resource for Ontario educators to help students learn more about about the dangers of smoking and vaping so they can make healthy and informed decisions. 
• Not an Experiment | Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. Website that provides youth and educators with information about the health effects of vaping, industry influences, and more. Includes classroom and school-wide resources for elementary and secondary educators. 
• Stop Vaping Challenge | University of Toronto. Hub for interventions to help youth and young adults stop vaping e-cigarettes. Includes a youth-oriented vaping education workshop designed to empower young individuals with knowledge and tools to make healthier decisions in the future. There is also a Stop Vaping Challenge app that helps teens reflect on their vaping behaviours through an abstinence challenge. 
• Students Together Moving to Prevent Substance Use (STOMP) | PHE Canada. Program that takes a comprehensive approach to curb substance use among youth, including smoking, vaping, cannabis, and alcohol use, by targeting the grade 7 to 12 student population and its unique characteristics, norms and needs directly. Resources include student and school kits.
• Quash | Lung Health Foundation. App to help people quit smoking or vaping. A free certificate training (self-guided, online) equips adults to deliver the Quash smoking and vaping cessation program to youth in their communities.
• Vaping Education Resources | Ophea. Provide educators with capacity building tools and conversation starter prompts to support grade 4 to 8 students in developing the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being. Resources include Instructional Moments videos and Educator Guide, Conversation Starter videos, and tip sheets.

• Cannabis Education Resources | Ophea. Provide educators and administrators access to evidence-informed information on substance use (specifically cannabis) to help students in grades 1 to 12 develop the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions to support their health and well-being.  Resources include Cannabis Education Activity Plans for elementary and secondary students, a Q&A column series, and a resource database.
• iMinds | Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. Collection of resources for schools that encourage students to develop substance and gambling literacy and understand substance use and gambling in the real world. Designed to support BC Ministry of Education curricula, but adaptable and available for use in Canadian schools.
• My Brain, My Choice | Huron Perth Public Health. Three-session program for grade 6 students designed to delay or prevent substance use in youth. Teachers will be provided resources to guide discussion of youth perceptions of substances, and support learning about addiction and the impact substances such as nicotine have on the developing brain. Students will be encouraged to think critically about media and peer influences, and practice strategies to navigate peer pressure situations. Follow-up resources can be shared with parents/caregivers to reinforce key messages from the program.
  • My Brain, My Choice is a physical kit with digital resources. To request My Brain, My Choice please fill out the school request form. We will provide you with a physical kit and access to the MBMC digital resources.